Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to me, ‘What have you left for your family?’ I replied, ‘As much again.’ Abū Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, brought everything he had. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked him, ‘What have you left for your family?’ He replied, ‘I have left them Allah and His Messenger.’ I then said, ‘I shall never compete with you in anything again.’”

What Umar did was permissible rivalry and emulation. Yet the state of al-Siddīq, may Allah be pleased with him, was better: he was entirely free of rivalry, paying no attention to the circumstances of others.

Likewise, “Moses, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, felt rivalry with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and wished for a blessing like his, as related in the hadith of the Ascension. He even wept when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, passed beyond him. He was asked, ‘What makes you weep?’ He replied, ‘I weep because a young man was sent after me, yet more people from his community will enter Paradise than from mine.’”

This was recorded in the two Sahīh collections. Another reported wording, other than the authentic account, states:

“We passed a man who was raising his voice and saying, ‘You have honoured him and favoured him!’ He continued: ‘We then raised him up to him and greeted him. He returned the greeting and asked, “Who is this with you, Gabriel?” He replied, “This is Ahmad.” He said, “Welcome to the unlettered Prophet who conveyed his Lord’s message and sincerely counselled his community.”’

“He continued: ‘Then we went on, and I asked, “Who is this, Gabriel?” He replied, “This is Moses son of Imrān.” I asked, “With whom is he remonstrating?” He replied, “He is remonstrating with his Lord concerning you.” I asked, “And he raises his voice at his Lord?” He replied, “Allah, Mighty and Majestic, knows his sincerity.”’”